Xiahou Shao Xuan sat beside the bed, quietly watching Lian Qiguang, who was lying on the bed in a deep sleep. His slightly rough fingers gently stroked the faintly furrowed space between Lian Qiguang’s brows, smoothing away his uneasy anxiety.
Lian Qiguang’s secret had gathered into a thick fog in his heart, leaving him unable to figure it out no matter how much he thought about it. He could explain his heaven-defying ability as a natural talent, and possessing a rare treasure could be attributed to some fortuitous encounter. But today’s exchange, those practical combat experiences that had even caught him somewhat off guard, made his doubts even stronger.
If before it had merely been simple curiosity, then now, he truly wanted to know the truth.
“What are you thinking about?”
At some point, Lian Qiguang had opened his eyes and was silently looking at Xiahou Shao Xuan.
“You’re awake?” Xiahou Shao Xuan came back to himself and reached out to pinch Lian Qiguang’s cheek. “Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
“What are you thinking about?” Lian Qiguang pressed on, his eyes staring straight at Xiahou Shao Xuan’s face.
“……”
“Saozi.”
No one knew how much time passed before Xiahou Shao Xuan bent down, gently pressing his forehead against Lian Qiguang’s.
“Can you tell me? Your secret.”
“…You want to know.”
Rarely, Lian Qiguang showed some desire to avoid the question.
“Mm. Saozi, the two of us, for this entire lifetime, until death, will belong to each other. I don’t want there to be a barrier between us.”
Looking at the seriousness in Xiahou Shao Xuan’s eyes, Lian Qiguang remained silent for a long time.
“I don’t know how to say it.” After remaining silent for a long while, Lian Qiguang spoke. “Perhaps, if I tell you, you will hate me, or even kill me.”
Just like those mutants, my existence, to an ordinary human like you, is an abnormality. Those who are not of our race will always have different intentions.
“No. No matter who you are, you are the only partner I will have in this lifetime.”
“Even if I’m an infected?” Lian Qiguang looked calmly at Xiahou Shao Xuan.
Xiahou Shao Xuan quietly met Lian Qiguang’s gaze. After a long while, he slowly pulled him into his arms.
“Yes. Even if you’re an infected, I still want you.”
“……”
“I’ll consider it.”
“I’ll wait.”
“My ability is about to break through again. For the next two days, I need to enter the space.”
Lian Qiguang poked his head out from Xiahou Shao Xuan’s embrace and said woodenly.
“Be careful.”
After the day Xiahou Shao Xuan and Lian Qiguang had sparred, although Xiahou Shao Xuan still had his usual cold expression, the soldiers familiar with him all knew that their boss was in an exceptionally good mood. At the very least, toward those of them who occasionally sought death, he no longer tortured them so viciously.
And ever since Lian Qiguang had been carried back to his room by Xiahou Shao Xuan that day, he had never shown his face again. Xiahou Shao Xuan’s explanation to outsiders was that Lian Qiguang’s ability had been overdrawn and he needed to rest.
“What happened?!”
Xiahou Shao Xuan hurried to the command center. At this moment, the command room was already in complete chaos.
“Boss! Countless mutants suddenly appeared inside the quarantine zone, and they’re unusually violent, as if something has enraged them. They’re crazily crashing into the protective barrier of the quarantine zone. If this continues, it’s only a matter of time before the protective barrier cracks!” Yuan Ling said anxiously.
Xiahou Shao Xuan walked to the floating virtual screen and looked at the transmitted images, his brows tightly furrowed.
Thousands upon thousands of mutants had gathered together. Looking at them from a distance, the entire area was dark and oppressive, making one’s scalp crawl. These mutants were as if they had been injected with a stimulant, extraordinarily violent, crazily crashing into the protective screen.
With each impact from the mutants, the protective barrier rippled with circles of pale-blue waves. If this continued, sooner or later the barrier would be smashed open.
Once the protective barrier shattered, looking at the mutants whose heads could not be seen no matter how far one looked, it was not difficult to imagine what would happen.
“The entire Blood Fiend Wolves, assemble. Head to the quarantine zone. Freely hunt the mutants. No need to report.”
After Xiahou Shao Xuan coldly issued the order, he turned and left.
“Yes!!!”
Inside the space, Lian Qiguang lay calmly in the lake. Green light lingered around him, slowly flowing into his body.
The pale green from before had now become emerald green, just like a plant’s tender sprout that had now grown branches and vines.
Suddenly, the lake water around Lian Qiguang began to tremble. The green gradually became denser, rushing restlessly through the water and completely enveloping Lian Qiguang.
Abruptly, Lian Qiguang opened his eyes. A trace of gold flashed across the depths of his eyes and disappeared, as though it had merely been an illusion.
Lian Qiguang slowly raised himself from the lake and looked at his hands. Deep, surging undercurrents churned within his eyes.
Peak Profound Rank.
Lian Qiguang lowered his hands and indifferently looked at his reflection in the lake. His fingers gently touched the snake head on his chest.
The snake head had now become increasingly distinct. Reflected in the lake water, it emitted a faint silver glow. The snake’s eyes were golden, carrying a fierce arrogance, while beneath that ferocity there seemed to be a faint trace of pity hidden within.
Lian Qiguang withdrew his hand and slowly walked out of the lake. After changing his clothes, he flashed out of the space.
The empty room carried a slight chill. It seemed that no one had lived here for several days.
Lian Qiguang got out of bed and walked to the window. He opened it a narrow crack and glanced at the weather outside.
It was midnight.
Lian Qiguang lowered his head and glanced at the optical brain on his wrist. According to it, he had already been inside the space for four days.
Lian Qiguang opened the optical brain and wanted to contact Xiahou Shao Xuan, only to discover that Xiahou Shao Xuan’s optical brain had already been shut off.
Lian Qiguang’s brows faintly knitted together. After thinking for a moment, he casually grabbed a coat, turned around, and left the room.
Lian Qiguang walked through the empty base, expressionless as he looked around.
Compared with usual, the base seemed somewhat emptier and more desolate, which left Lian Qiguang somewhat puzzled.
“Hello, Saozi!”
A squad of passing soldiers saluted Lian Qiguang.
“Where is Shao Xuan?” Lian Qiguang asked.
“Uh…”
Lian Qiguang’s question caused the soldiers to fall silent. They looked left and right, their eyes wandering everywhere, simply refusing to look at Lian Qiguang.
“Where is he?”
A faint uneasiness rose in Lian Qiguang’s heart, and his voice sank several degrees.
“Saozi, Boss, Boss went out. He’ll be back soon. You don’t need to worry.”
After saying this, the group turned around and ran, not even giving Lian Qiguang another chance to speak.
“Madam!”
A peach-red figure stumbled toward Lian Qiguang. Lian Qiguang flashed aside and dodged the person.
His evasion caught Li Yu off guard, and she nearly fell to the ground. A trace of resentment flashed through her eyes, but she quickly concealed it. When she raised her head, she was still as weak and delicate as always.
“Madam, hurry and go find Big Brother Xiahou.”
Li Yu covered her face and sobbed pitifully.
“What happened?” Lian Qiguang asked coldly.
“Just, just three days ago, a huge number of mutants suddenly appeared in the quarantine zone. Big Brother Xiahou took people there to hunt them, but now, now three days have already passed, and Big Brother Xiahou still hasn’t returned. Even the communications have been cut off.”
“……”
Lian Qiguang’s hands abruptly clenched. The suffocating feeling that suddenly came from his chest made his face turn somewhat pale.
Without paying any more attention to Li Yu, who was crying pitifully, Lian Qiguang turned and hurried toward the parking area he had gone to with Yuan Ling a few days earlier.
“Madam…”
Go! Go! Once you go, don’t come back! If you die, Big Brother Xiahou will definitely fall in love with me!!
Looking at Lian Qiguang’s retreating back, Li Yu’s face was twisted with vicious hatred.
“Saozi…”
A soldier approaching from the front pulled out a smile and greeted Lian Qiguang, but before he could finish speaking, Lian Qiguang had already drawn Qianming and placed it against his neck.
Lian Qiguang’s action startled the others. They immediately drew their guns and pointed them at him.
“Saozi, you…”
“Take me to the quarantine zone.”
Lian Qiguang spoke coldly, an icy chill filling his eyes.
“The quarantine zone?”
The soldier exclaimed.
“Saozi, you, why are you going there?”
“Shao Xuan has been missing for three days, and you still want to lie to me?”
Lian Qiguang grabbed the soldier by the collar, his voice carrying a suppressed roar.
“Saozi, Boss will be fine. But if you go there, and something happens to you, Boss will definitely butcher me.”
“If you don’t take me there, I’ll butcher you right now.”
Lian Qiguang shifted the blade slightly and said coldly, “If one person doesn’t take me there, I’ll kill one. If two people don’t take me there, I’ll kill two, until I can go to the quarantine zone.”
“Saozi…”
Quarantine zone.
Inside a forest that had already mutated, vicious plants stretched their claws in every direction.
Xiahou Shao Xuan stood on a stone, coldly watching the mysterious man in a black cloak not far away.
At this moment, Xiahou Shao Xuan’s abdomen, left shoulder, and right chest had all been corroded away, leaving a horrifying sight of bloody flesh. Bright-red blood spread down from the wounds, gathering into a small pool of blood beneath his feet, causing the surrounding plants to surge toward Xiahou Shao Xuan even more recklessly.
Yet in the blink of an eye, they were shattered into pieces by the lightning-type ability surrounding Xiahou Shao Xuan’s body.
Looking at the mysterious man whose face was hidden beneath the cloak, Xiahou Shao Xuan’s heart was heavy.
His ability had already reached the Illusion Rank, yet when facing the attacks of the man before him, he was struggling tremendously.
Just how strong was this man?
Imperial Rank? Void Rank? Or… Breakthrough Rank?
When had Unfallen Star acquired such a terrifying person?
“You shouldn’t touch him.”
The man slowly extended his hand. The corrosion ability gathered in his palm. His hoarse voice sounded like a dull blade scraping against something, making it uncomfortable to hear.
Seeing the black mist in the man’s hand, Xiahou Shao Xuan immediately tensed his body, preparing to defend against the man’s attack.
“He is mine!”
The man roared. His entire body instantly disappeared from where he stood.
Xiahou Shao Xuan’s eyes darkened. Before he had time to think, a cold, murderous aura suddenly attacked from behind.
Invisibility ability.
On a barren stretch of land, thousands upon thousands of densely packed mutants made one’s heart tremble with fear and one’s scalp crawl.
They were crazily attacking the protective barrier.
One group of mutants died, and another group of mutants somehow emerged from somewhere, continuing the attack.
Hundreds of combat spacecraft floated in the air, firing shells at the mutants.
Countless soldiers stood back-to-back, surrounded by mutants, desperately unleashing their abilities in every direction to stop the mutants from advancing.
“Have these mutants gone completely crazy?!”
A rock-type ability pierced through the head of a mutant.
Chong Mu cursed loudly.
“Where the hell are so many mutants coming from?! Could they have all come out of their nests? Whose face is so damn huge that they offended all of them?!”
“Stop talking nonsense!”
Yuan Ling sent out a sheet of ice spikes and frowned.
“Fill the gap in front! Hurry!!”
“Xuan Lang! Watch out!!”
Chong Mu cleaved apart a mutant and immediately saw the one behind Xuan Lang. His eyes instantly widened as he shouted hoarsely.
Seeing that the mutant was about to bite Xuan Lang’s head off, Yuan Ling immediately pushed Xuan Lang away. Condensed ice formed in his hand and pierced into the mutant’s body.
But the mutant had already opened its bloody maw and reached Yuan Ling’s head.
“Yuan Ling!!”
“Yuan Ling…”
Damn it! I haven’t even gotten a wife yet.
Yuan Ling closed his eyes and smiled bitterly.
Just as Yuan Ling waited for death, however, nothing happened even after a long while.
Yuan Ling slowly opened his eyes.
Only to see a hideously distorted, bulging mutant face frozen one centimeter in front of his own.
Yuan Ling pursed his lips and silently took two steps backward.
The mutant crashed to the ground.
Lian Qiguang stood atop the mutant’s head, expressionless, pulling an ice spike out from its skull.
“S-Saozi…”
Yuan Ling stared blankly at Lian Qiguang, his brain momentarily freezing.
It wasn’t only Yuan Ling.
Several soldiers nearby who had seen Lian Qiguang were also stunned, as if they had been frightened.
Lian Qiguang coldly looked around.
The overwhelming mass of mutants caused a trace of excitement to rise in Lian Qiguang’s chest.
The brutality of the siege, like a city surrounded by zombies, made him momentarily think he had returned to that cannibalistic apocalypse.
The killing dyed his eyes red.
Lian Qiguang jumped down from the mutant, clenched both fists, and suddenly crouched down.
Both fists struck the ground.
Frost spread outward.
Within a radius of a hundred li, the mutants were instantly frozen, losing their ability to fight.
Lian Qiguang’s eyes darkened.
His fists loosened.
Flames rapidly wrapped around Lian Qiguang and spread outward with an unstoppable force.
Countless frozen mutants shattered into pieces, turned into flaming fragments, and scattered through the air.
Looking up, the sky was filled with red fragments.
If not for the corpses and blood covering the ground, it would have actually been exceptionally beautiful.
“……”
The group of soldiers was speechless.
The mutants that had given them such a headache had just been wiped out by Lian Qiguang like this?
Were they dreaming?
Were they dreaming?
Or were they dreaming?!
But wasn’t that beside the point?
The point was, Lian Qiguang seemed to have used a fire-type ability.
Fire-type ability!! Wasn’t he already a wood-type and ice-type ability user? What is this now?! Three types!!!
This is heaven-defying, ahhh!! Both husbands are monsters!!
A group of soldiers who had lost their target stood there dumbly, staring at the flames that had burned across the sky with Lian Qiguang at the center.
They suddenly felt that there was no love left in this world.
Once zombies cultivated to a certain level, they would possess a small amount of intelligence.
Mutants were the same.
Although they had now fallen into a state of violence, Lian Qiguang’s strength and ferocity still made them somewhat fearful for a moment.
At this moment, the mutants gathered together, viciously staring at Lian Qiguang and the soldiers, low growls coming from their throats.
Ignoring the horrified gazes surrounding him, Lian Qiguang turned and walked to Xuan Lang’s side.
“Where is Shao Xuan?”
“Ah? Ah!”
Xuan Lang came back to himself from his shock and hurriedly stood straight.
But after hearing Lian Qiguang’s question, his expression sank again.
“Saozi, the day before yesterday, Boss saw someone and chased after him. He still hasn’t returned.”
“What person?”
“A man wearing a black cloak. We couldn’t see his face, but judging from his build, he should be a man.”
Black cloak.
Couldn’t see his face!
Lian Qiguang’s body instantly tensed, a trace of panic appearing in his eyes.
“Saozi, what’s wrong?”
Noticing that something was wrong with Lian Qiguang, Xuan Lang carefully asked.
“Which direction did he go?”
“Over there…”
Before Xuan Lang could finish speaking, a cold breeze swept past him.
Lian Qiguang disappeared from before his eyes.
“Saozi…”
Xuan Lang wanted to call Lian Qiguang back, but before long, Lian Qiguang had already disappeared without a trace.
It seemed that Lian Qiguang’s departure had caused the mutants to lower their guard.
They immediately became aggressive and once again began attacking.
The soldiers had no choice but to fight again.
Fortunately, most of these mutants had already been eliminated by Lian Qiguang.
Lian Qiguang’s arrival just now had also given them a chance to catch their breath and rest.
Now that they fought again, they did not fall into a disadvantage.
“Shao Xuan! Where are you! Shao Xuan…”